Sooyoung

The days grow longer and the weather feels warmer and nicer- yet with each passing day, I feel an ache in the back of my head that pounds, like stormy rain on a rooftop. And it’s all thanks to that pabo, jerk-poophead.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but thank God I don’t have home economics everyday. I would really end up throwing a fit and tearing out all of the long hair I’ve painstakingly grown out since junior high.

I have never been forced to spend time with a more obnoxious person. I don’t think he has ever learned the basic concepts of common courtesy because if he isn’t wasting time not doing his work by goofing off with other guys in the class or hitting on girls, he’s always, always pointing out something that I’ve done wrong. Whether I’m decorating a cake or mixing up batter or even measuring cups of water, Changmin just has to make some snide comment about it.

He even points out mistakes that the teacher makes. He’s so rude- yet everyone thinks he’s some wonderful, charming angel.

Well, I don’t think that. I think that Shim Changmin is a stupid, pretentious whose voice is too loud, eats too much of my food and uses too much hair gel. And I try to avoid thinking about him as much as possible.

“Aish,” I grumbled as I sat down at the lunch table.

“Unnie- what’s wrong? You look so grumpy lately,” asked Seohyun.

“Annoying s are annoying,” was all I said as I took out my fabulous sandwich I had gotten up extra early this morning to prepare. I took a huge bite and all the uniquely delicious tastes blended together in my mouth and sent me to heaven.

But I didn’t stay in food heaven for very long before Changmin ambled over to our table and sat down in the seat right next to me.

“Hey Sooyoung…that sandwich looks really good,” he said, smirking. I pretended he didn’t exist, calmly preparing to take another bite. Suddenly, I felt the air whooshing upwards and my sandwich gone from my hands. A boiling anger bubbled inside me and I jumped up to face that ridiculously tall jerk.

“Hasn’t anybody taught you that it’s freaking rude to grab food right out of other people’s hands?!” I growled. “Changmin…CHANGMIN! CHANGMIN YOU ARSE…GIVE. ME. BACK. MY. SANDWICH!!” Changmin only smirked at me and held my precious sandwich up even higher, taking full advantage of his 188 centimeters of height.

As if that wasn’t enough, the sauce from my sandwich dripped in huge globs right onto my face and a piece sauce-drenched meat slipped onto my uniform. I stood still in shock. Changmin’s eyes widened and he muttered, “Oh…. Uh…I…I’m sorry, Sooyoung…here I’ll get you a napkin.”

In the back of my head, something snapped and all the rage he had caused to build up inside me was suddenly unleashed. Without really thinking about what I was doing, I smushed my sandwich right into his face. “I HATE YOU, SHIM CHANGMIN!!” I shrieked. Everyone in our section of the cafeteria was staring at us.

Changmin blinked slowly, trying to see through the sauce that coated his entire face. “…Sooyoung, I already said I was sorry, what the hell was that for…?!” he asked in a strangled voice.

“SHUT UP!!” I screamed, impulsively taking Key’s loaf of bread and throwing it right at Changmin.

“Yah! Sooyoungie, what the ?! Childish much-"

I would have gave a curt response back had that not decided to suddenly step over and smear sauce on my face. This time, I literally hit my limit- so I started to deliver futile attacks at his chest. The entire cafeteria was in an excited uproar.

I was just about to find something to pummel Changmin with when I saw a shadow fall upon us. I looked up and my heart dropped- it was a teacher with a very, very frowny face.

As much as I tried to argue my case, in the end, we were both sentenced to clean-up duty of the cafeteria as punishment for causing a disturbance. I could not have been in a more terrible mood- but it significantly brightened when I realized that Mr. Jung was supervising us.

When he saw me, he gave me a sympathetic smile and said, “Still as energetic as ever, eh Sooyoung?” I looked down at my feet in embarrassment while Changmin snorted. I kicked him right in the shin- he stumbled over and gave me a glare. Mr. Jung chuckled and said, “Yah- let’s avoid killing each other while cleaning the place up. The faster you work, the sooner you can get out of here.”

I took the broom and swept in sections of the cafeteria as far away from Changmin as possible. Occasionally I would engage in conversation with Mr. Jung so to be honest, the punishment wasn’t so bad. When we were almost done, he glanced at his watch and said, “All right- uh, I’ll have to take my leave now. I have a meeting with my fiancé and I’m running kind of late. You guys can get your stuff and go now- the place looks pretty clean to me.”

I managed a smile, even though inside, I felt my heart grow somewhat heavy. I stood there for a while and gazed after his retreating form.

“Hello? Helloooooo~? Earth to Sooyoung!” Changmin called, waving a hand in front of my face. “What the heck is up with you and spacing out? Do you have some kind of crush on Mr. Jung?” I gave him an indignant glare and shoved his hand out of the way.

“Hmph. It doesn’t concern you…”

“Yeah, yeah okay…hey, Sooyoung! Wait!”

I turned around and narrowed my eyes.“Why would I wait for an like you?”

“So that said can give you this.” He casually dropped a wrapped sandwich right into my hands. I stared at it, confused.

“What is this?”

“A sandwich, Sooyoung. You know, the thing that got both of us sentenced to cleaning duty.”

“Oh shut the hell up. Where did you find it and why are you giving this to me?”

“Well, I was sweeping the kitchen and I was curious so I checked out the stuff they had in the fridge and made it…you know, to uh, make up for yours…you know what, j-just take it!” All of a sudden, Shim Changmin didn’t seem so high and mighty but terribly awkward and almost shy.

Shrugging, I unwrapped the sandwich and bit into it…and my eyes widened. It tasted exactly the same as the one I had made for myself that morning. Even the little extra stuff I added in there…the tastes had the same delicious flavors.

“Th-Thanks…” I muttered to myself, my mouth full. Changmin smirked and walked off.

Jessica

I dropped my phone in my bag. Practice was canceled for today and thank goodness- the majority of my teachers decided to completely overload us with homework. I ran through a mental list of things I needed to get done as I walked out of the classroom

…And who should I see but Kim Jonghyun loitering around in the hallway with that perfect grin on his face- except this time, instead of sauntering up to me like he usually does, he appeared to have all his attention fixated on talking to some other girl.

I realized it was Sekyung, who seemed both embarrassed and flattered by his interest. In fact, Jonghyun was just short of being all over her. My hands curled into fists and an unprecedented jealousy surged within me.

“I like your hair very much. It suits you…’cutie,’” Jonghyun said, playing with her hair and leaning in with his mouth next to her ear- I almost gagged at both the overly saccharine statement and the bad usage of English.

Sekyung, blushing all over, stuttered, “Th-Thank you…sunbae-I mean, oppa…”

Deciding I had stayed around long enough, I quickly walked right past them. I should have figured he had become that kind of guy and I was an idiot to think his attention was reserved just for me…

Come to think of it, what did I care for his attention?

A hand grasped my arm. I turned around and saw it was Jonghyun. He still had a grin on his face, but right then it looked much more cocky and devious- and, partly to my dismay, sent small, pleasuring quakes down my spine.

“Well hey there, Jessica- may I ask why you’re in such a hurry to leave school?”

Shaking my arm out of his grip, I said curtly, “It’s none of your business.” Still he followed me and when I began to pick up the pace, he closed in on me and purred,

“Actually it is…especially because we haven’t been alone like this for a while.” His ability to move quickly was incredible- after one mere second, I found myself in the same position as the other day when he cornered me like this. His hands roamed all over me and I struggled to breathe and to push him off…but this time, I felt myself succumb to his touches. A yearning for the pleasure resounded deep within me and as much as I tried to suppress it, a whimper escaped my lips.

“Mmm…that’s it, Sica baby, moan for me…” That seductive voice- the same one he had just used moments ago on Sekyung- cleared up my mind and finally, with some difficulty, I managed to free myself and push him away.

“Okay seriously, Jonghyun-ssi…what the is this about?” I was promptly ignored as he pulled me back towards him, and traced his lips along my collarbone while popping buttons open of my school uniform open.

“Shhh…baby, relax- why are you so tense and uptight all the time, Ice Princess?”

“Because this is seriously uncalled for, especially ‘cause you seem to like playing around with little second year girls as well…” I stopped, immediately regret what I said and felt my cheeks flush red. Jonghyun stared at me then chuckled, an amused smile playing on his lips.  

“Well then- I didn’t expect this to develop so quickly…and with such pleasing results. I have grown into a guy you’ve got the hots for, no?”

Dear God, how I wanted to smack the hell out of him right there and then.

“I’m not interested in guys like you,” I told him flat out- the confidence in my voice surprised even me.

“Oh really, now?” he challenged. “We’ll see about that…” Before I even had time to question what the hell he thought he was doing, Jonghyun slid his hand down past my waist and began tracing his fingertips across my smooth, bare thighs. I shuddered and, as he oh so slowly began inching his hands up a little past my skirt, thought: This is so unfair. My breath hitched and I made a little gasp when his hand got a firm hold cupped around my .

“What’s the matter, Jessica? I thought you didn’t like guys like me? Why do you look like you’re begging me to come inside you?” Just then, I felt his hand finally withdraw from me and I unintentionally uttered a sound of protest. I felt myself sag in both relief and disappointment. He bent forward so that we were chest to chest and his mouth blowing slow, deep breaths right into my ear.

“You’re such a liar, Jessica Jung. You’re for me and you like it. But guess what- I’m going to make you suffer. All the uncertainty, all the torment I faced…you’re going to experience it now. I still want you, Jessica…but I’m going to break you first…”

I felt a shiver down my back. Suddenly, I was no longer in close contact with him anymore. As Jonghyun walked off, he turned around and gave me a wink, a perfect smile hiding his unscrupulous intentions.

“I’ll see you sometime again…Jessica-ssi.”

I stayed perfectly still in the same spot, staring after his retreating form. I wasn’t sure what I should even think. Automatically, I began straightening myself up and tugging my uniform back in order- one thing I did know was that I sure as hell didn’t want anybody else getting any ideas from him.

I shook my head in confusion and rage as I wondered: Why the hell am I letting him get to me? Since when did I get so…powerless? My unanswered question echoed in my head as I gathered my bag and left the school.

Seohyun

The screen of my phone shone brightly as the device hummed and whirred in my sweaty palms, alerting me of the new message I had just received. Anxiously, I checked it and to my chagrin, it was from Yonghwa-oppa:

From: Yonghwa-Oppa <3

My baby Hyunnie, where are you? Oppa misses you…do you want to go out for food later today?

Guilt filled my heart as I typed a message back:

To: Yonghwa-Oppa <3

Hi, oppa <3 Ahhh... Hyunnie has a lot of homework and errands to run for her parents. Sorry, oppa.

As I pressed “send”, I made my way to the edge of Baeyoung campus, but my steps became less and less sure as I approach the gates. I lingered around, as if the rigid precautions of venturing into the city alone set by my parents still tethered me.

I then stepped out onto the sidewalk and headed for the city, snapping the protective leash apart and leaving it behind.

Business men walking back to their tall, foreboding office buildings, fashionable women on shopping trips, high school students just like me out on the streets to have a good time and impatient drivers in different cars all passed me by in the city teeming with life. Vendors called out to me, inviting me to spend my money on their products, most of them whom I politely refused, except for the one whose roasted sweet potato snacks I absolutely adored.

It’s kind of like a mission of sorts, I thought to myself as I nibbled on the hot, mealy potato. A mission in order to confront the person who I had not stopped thinking about for the past week.

When I passed the restaurant that Yonghwa-oppa and I had dined at last weekend, I became more and more uncertain of my whereabouts. Last time, I had been there with Yonghwa-oppa, but now I was alone venturing into a part of the city I wasn’t too familiar with.

My uneasiness increased when I finally found the street corner and saw that, in contrast to the other night, there wasn’t really anybody around, save for a few shadowy figures loitering by the sides of the surrounding buildings. My heart was pounding in my ears as the slowly sinking sun slipped below the horizon and the sky began to darken.

Cautiously, I made my way through the street corner, yet there was still no sign of him or any of the artists that I had assumed would be here on a nightly basis. Just as I was about to give up and go home, I was approached by two young men.

“Well whattaya know- a high school girl…hey girlie,” one of them cooed at me and I immediately regret embarking on this journey as well as wearing my school uniform. “Wanna come along with us for a good time?”

Nervous fear jittering inside me, I was just about to politely refuse and then make a run for it when I heard a voice call out, “Yah, Chinho-sunbaenim! Stop trying to hit on random girls so much, can’t you tell none of them are into you? If you spent less time trying to get it in and more on your artwork, your commission pieces wouldn’t as bad,” I turned to the sound of the voice and relief flooded my heart as I saw him standing by the doorframe of a small diner.

“Che!” The man made an annoyed grunt. “Anyone ever tell you that you’re a cocky little head, Kyuhyun?”

“Just you, Chinho-sunbaenim,” Kyuhyun replied easily. “Now go off on your trip to the bar to get piss-faced drunk so I don’t have to see you so often.” The man glared at him, clearly put out that he was told off by a high school senior, but nevertheless left with his companion.

He then finally realized who I was and strode over to me. Once again, I couldn’t help but take in his ratty appearance, the messiness of his unruly hair and the way his full lips formed into an amused smirk.

“So…you actually came,” he said. “You’re as smart and observant as they say you are. Color me impressed.”

“Th-Thank you…” I stuttered. An awkward silence filled the air and I struggled to find the right words to say. “Ah…so…why…”

“It’s quite late,” he interrupted me. “You must be hungry. Wanna go eat in the diner? It’s my treat.” I was about to object when my stomach grumbled in agreement with him. I said hesitantly, “All right…”

He grinned and said, “Don’t worry…we’ll talk over dinner and I promise, I’ll answer your questions.”

The chef himself set down two steaming dishes on the table. We thanked him and he nodded to us and returned to the kitchen.

“So Kyuhyun-sunbaenim,” I started again. “Why exactly did you…”

“…do you really like sweet potatoes?” he asked me suddenly. I stopped, surprised once again by his interruption.

“Well…yes, I do…why?”

“I’m just wondering since your plate is loaded with them,” he pointed out. I blushed and lowered my head. He saw and said quickly, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you…it’s okay to really like a certain food. I asked because I know a vendor that sells really delicious sweet potato snacks…”

“Oh! You mean Chung Seunghyun’s potato bits? I love them- I buy from him whenever I can!”

“Really? ‘Cause you see…”

Conversation between us like this went back and forth easily and gradually, I felt more comfortable talking to Kyuhyun…but much of it, I personally felt, was talking about me and not really anything about him. Also, whenever I brought up the topic of why I had come in the first place, he always distracted me by bringing up something else.

Finally, after the talking died down and we were reduced to finishing the last bits on our plates, I asked, “Kyuhyun-sunbaenim…it’s been really nice talking with you and I’m grateful to you for treating me to dinner…but I would really like to ask you something, especially because you keep avoiding my question: Why did you write ‘Let’s meet again’ within the sketch you drew of me last week?”

A few seconds of silence passed by before he finally looked up at me and stared intensely into my eyes. The same amused smirk played on his lips again as he said, “…Well what do you think?”

“…You…were interested in seeing me again?” My heart palpitations sped up when his smirk widened into an impish grin.

“I guess you could say that…but I also have a feeling,” I felt him rest his hand on mine. “…that you wanted to meet me again as well.” I wasn’t sure how to respond at first as his words took me completely off-guard…and at the same time made me realize something.

“D…D-Don’t misunderstand,” I stuttered. “I…I just came to clear things up…it’s a mental thing, you know, it bothers me when I don’t know if things aren’t really exactly as I think they are and…I have a boyfriend already. I’m flattered that you wanted to see me again, but I’m perfectly well-off with Yonghwa-oppa and it’s rude to just…”

“Then why did you go through all the trouble?” Kyuhyun queried, standing up as well. “Why would you bother coming down here to see me? I’m sure as the second top student of your class, homework should hold a top priority- yet here you are talking to me, the one person you should probably avoid, especially since you’re so happy with your boyfriend and all. Which can only mean one thing- that you actually wanted, deep down inside, to take that first step out of your comfort zone and see me.”

“…N-No! You’re wrong! I’m fine, I’m happy and I…” Who the hell did he think he was, throwing around his own opinions about my true feelings?

“You don’t look ‘happy,’” Kyuhyun pointed out softly. “You’re ‘content’ but you’re not ‘happy.’ Ever since I first met you, I’ve gotten the feeling that you’re always restrained, too afraid to step out of your boundaries, yet always longing to do so. It sounds conceited of me to say so, especially since we hardly know each other, but…I think I can give you that chance to broaden your horizon. Plus…” There was that smirk again. “You’re cute when you’re flustered like that.”

This time my mouth fell open, dumbfounded. He was direct, infuriating (appealingly so) and on top of that, he had outwitted me and he knew it.

I sat down and sighed in defeat. “Fine…but one thing.”

“And whatever could that be?”

“It has to be an equal friendship. I don’t just want someone I’m going to blab about my life to and who’s never going to tell me anything about himself.” This time, I stared him right back up into those dark, intense eyes. “I..want to know more about you.” His eyes widened with surprise and intrigue, then shook his head, sat down as well and chuckled.

“If you put it that way…all right, you want to know more about me? I’ll tell you.” And that was when I took off from the ground, flying into a realm completely foreign to me and waiting for me to experience.  

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A/N: Hello there- Cee-Cee has finally updated again! :D gosh, writing storylines for chapters is pretty hard >_> especially when you're in charge of directing the stories of 9 girls total and somehow you have to interconnect them together T_T plus, i want to make sure i'm able to communicate my stories in my own way without being to vague, awkward or specific as well as trying not to stray too far into cliche plots...geez i'm so picky LOL. i'm sorry if the story has been pretty slow at first, but i think we're starting to get somewhere with the stories.

Seohyun's part in this chapter was not actually meant to be so long, but to me personally, i felt that it wouldn't have been good to just cut out the last part with her & Kyu sitting down for dinner :3 

enough of my rambling! there's a short break from school coming up soon though so hopefully i'll have some time to possibly come back with another update? we'll see :3 hwaiting~!